Relationship between core/peripheral temperature gradient and central hemodynamics in children after open heart...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Critical Care Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Accurate monitoring of hemodynamic status is crucial in pediatric patients following open heart surgery.
• Peripheral temperature measurements are non-invasive but their correlation with central hemodynamics requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between peripheral surface temperatures and central hemodynamic parameters in children after open heart surgery.
• To determine if peripheral temperature gradients can reliably predict central hemodynamic status.

Main Methods:

• Infrared thermometry measured anterior thigh, pretibial, and midfoot surface temperatures (MFT) in 17 pediatric patients.
• Core temperature was monitored via pulmonary artery thermistor; cardiac index (CI) was measured by thermodilution.
• Hemodynamic variables, including systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), were recorded.

Main Results:

• MFT showed an inverse relationship with SVRI (r = -5.3; p < .0001) but not with CI.
• The core/peripheral temperature gradient correlated directly with SVRI (r = .38, p < .01) and inversely with CI (r = -.28, p < .05).
• No significant improvement in correlation was observed when using temperature gradients from core to thigh or thigh to foot.

Conclusions:

• While statistically significant, the correlations between peripheral temperatures and central hemodynamic variables are not robust enough for clinical use.
• Peripheral temperature measurements alone are insufficient for predicting central hemodynamic status in pediatric post-cardiac surgery patients.